Method of and apparatus for feeding sheets



L BAKER Sept. 17, 1940.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SHEETS Filed Aug. 24, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 R m Wm D R A N E L Z, A TTORNEY Sept. i L. BAKER METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR fTBEDING SHEETS Filed Aug. 24, 1957 I 4 Sheets-Sheet g INVENTOR.

LEONARD BAKER I ATTORNEY Sept. 17, 1940. A L E Y 2,214,896 v METHOD OF AND APPARATUS 'FOR FEEDING SHEETS v Filed Aug. 24, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 v INVENTOR I LEONARD BAKERY Sept. 17, .1940

L BAKER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 na 1w 141 I A? 177 I80 43 i :ii L 0 o 44 40 xl I] BY A M mi 1NVENTOR -LEONARD BAKER ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES METHOD or AND mm'rps Foa FEEDING SHEETS Leonard Baker, Billsdale, N. 1., minor to Dexter Folder Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application August 24, 1937, Serial No. 160,581

' 24 Claims. (cl. 271-31) This invention relates to sheet feeders and, while capable of general use, is-more particularly adapted for feeding sheets of paper, tin, cardboard, or other materials one after another from the top of a pile thereof to various types of machines that are fed with and act upon such sheets.

' One object of the presentinvention is to pro.-

vide amethod for continuously feeding sheets from the top of a pile through addition of sheets vertically to the bottom thereof during the feeding operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved sheet feeder that can-be re- 1 loaded with sheets whenever necessary without having to stop "the feeder and without interrupting the feeding of sheets therefrom to the machine being fed thereby.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeder of the pile type that enables a pile of sheets thereonto be replenished from below while the sheets are being fed one after another from the topof the pile.

Another object of the present invention is to 26 provide a sheet feeder of the pile type which, through the provision of a temporary support for the remainder of *a pile of sheets, and mechanism capable of elevating a new pile to replenish the preceding pile; enables sheets to be fed continuously in succession from the top of the pile without having to stop the feeder to reload it.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a sheet feeder of the piletype which, through the provision of sheet separating and forwarding devices having working strokes of considerable length, a temporary support for the remainder of a pile of sheets, and pile elevating mechanism capable of raising a new pile to re-' plenish the preceding pile, enables sheets to be 0 fed continuously one after another from the top of the pile without havingto' stop the feeder for reloading or any other purposes.

Another object of the present. invention is to provide a sheet feeder of the pile type wherein 5 pile supports are movable into and out of the feeder as desired to maintain a continuous supply of sheets therein and sheet separating and forwarding devices are enabled to feed sheets successively fromv the top of said supply while it is being replenished at the bottom. thereof by sheets elevated thereto.

These and other objects of the present invention will appear as the following description thereof proceeds and in order to more clearly understand said invention reference maybe had to the accompanying drawings illustrating on embodiment thereof.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a sheet feeder con-'- structed and operated in accordance with the 8 present invention; a

Figs. 2 and 3 are rear and front elevations, respectively, of the sheet feeder shown in Fig. 1;'

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detail perspective view of sheet supporting means embodying the present 10 invention;

anism and control means therefor shown in Fig. 1; 16

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevation, partly in sectiomof the control means shown in Fig. 5 looking from the right thereof; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view of the feeder shown in Figs. 1 20 to 3.

Referring to the'drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several views, the various movable parts of the feederas well as certain stationary parts 26 thereof may be mounted on a frame of any suitable construction and the movable parts may be actuated or driven by any suitable means. As herein shown, said frame and driving means are preferably constructed as follows.

The feeder frame is comprised byv front uprights 5 and rear uprights 6 connected together by side members I and 8 (Figs. 1 to 3 and 7) The uprights 5 and Gare bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the feeder foundation, 171?: front upas rights 5 being connected together by cross members '9 bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto, and the rear uprights 6 being connected together at the tops thereof by a stay shaft l0 suitably secured thereto. The cross members 9 40 have bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto a metal apron or plate I l againstwhich the front edges of the metal or other sheets l2 bear during elevation of the same and prior to feeding I6 is journalled in suitable bearings in the front uprights 5 and said cam shaft is utilized to operate various parts of the feeder hereinafter described.

The short shaft i5 has fixed thereon a crank disc I 9' having pivotally connected therewith one end of a link 20 the opposite end of which is pivotally connected with a pawl carrier 2| that is loosely mounted on a shaft 22 (Fig. 3) This shaft 22 extends transversely of the feeder and V is joumalled in suitable hearings in brackets 23 (Figs. 1 and 3) that are bolted or otherwise suit-' ably secured to the front uprights 5 at the upper ends thereof. The shaft 22 may be rotated intermittently in the proper direction to impart step by step upward movement to a pile of sheets A on a pile elevator hereinafter described, and this intermittent rotation of shaft 22 is preferably eifected by pawl and ratchet mechanism of the general type disclosed in the application Serial No. 33,002 of Leonard Baker, filed July 25,

This pawl and ratchet mechanism includes the pawl carrier 2| (Fig. 3) which has a pawl 24 pivoted thereon and adapted, under certain conditions, to engage a ratchet 25 fixed on the shaft 22. It will thus appear that thru oscillation of the pawl carrier 2| by the described driving connections therefor with chain l3, and through engagement of the oscillating pawl 24 with the ratchet 25, the shaft 22 will be intermittently rotated as pointed outabove. Under these conditions' right and left hand worms 26 (Fig. 2)

fixed on shaft 22 will likewise be rotated. These worms 26 mesh with right and left worm gears 21 that are fixed on shafts 28 (Figs. 1 to 3 and 7) journalled in suitable bearings provided by the brackets 23 on the front uprights 5 and by brackets 29 on the rear uprights 6. Fixed on shafts 26 are sprockets 30 around which pass endless chains 3| which also pass around sprockets 32 that are fixed on shafts 33 journalled in suitable bearings in brackets 34 adjustably secured at 35' (Fig. 2) on the lower ends of uprights 5 and 6 so that slack may be taken up in the chains 3| as desired.

These chains 3| form part of a pile elevator which, as herein shown, is of the endless ladder type and includes spaced horizontal 'rails 35 having bevelled edges 31. The rails 36 are secured in any suitable manner on follower plates 38 pinned or otherwise suitably secured at equal intervals on the chains 3| and provided with rollers 39 and 40. Disposed at opposite sides of the feeder and bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the uprights 5 and 6 are horizontally extending upper and lower bars 4| and 42 respectively which, in turn, have bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto vertically extending tracks 43 provided with vertical slots .44.

During operation of the elevator 3|, 36, the following plates 38 pass through the slots 44 of tracks 43, and t e rollers 39 and '40 travel on opposite sidesof said tracks respectively. The rails 36 on the inner opposed reaches of chains 3| are thus guided and maintained in proper laterally spaced relation for the loading, elevation, and reloading of piles A of sheets, as hereinafter described. Positioned within the feeder at the bottom thereof,- and projecting rearwardly therefrom, are stringers 45 having supports 46 which rest on the feeder foundation. These stringers 45 have bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the 'topsthereof channel members 41 rollers 46 on which piles of sheets A may be freely run into the feeder to load andreload the same.

Accordingly, the piles A of sheets are placed on skid boards 49 provided in the upper surfaces thereof with grooves 50 for a purpose hereinafter described. Theseskid boards 49 have runners 5| and when the sheets l2 are placed in piles A on said skid boards the latter and. the piles A of sheets thereon may be run by trucks to the feeder for loading thereon' at intervals as required. For this purpose, pile boards 52 are employed having rail engaging'plates 53 secured in any suitable manner on opposite side edges of said pile boards and depending below the bottoms thereof. When the feeder is to be initially loaded with a pile A of sheets l2, a pile board is placed on the rollers 48 at the rearwardly projecting ends of stringers 45 (Fig. 1). The pile A and its supporting skid board 49 is then loaded in Fig. l and full lines in Fig. 2, respectively, so that the opposite sides of the pile board 52 will.

be disposed slightly above a pair of rails 36 of the pile elevator which, at this time, is stopped in order to receive the initial load.

In accordance with the present invention, each load or pile A of sheets delivered on to the ele-, vator is rapidly elevated thereby to proper position for feeding of the sheets |2 one after another from the top of the load or pile. As herein shown, this rapid elevation of the initial and subsequent piles A is preferably accomplished by mechanism constructed and operated as'follows.

Extending across the feeder frame and securedin any suitable manner to the front uprights 5 thereof are cross shafts. 54 (Figs. 1 and 3). Secured in any suitable manner in spaced relation on the cross shafts 54 are brackets 55 which have bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto an electric motor 56 connected with a suitable source of current and controlled for starting andstoppin Purposes by suitable switch means (not shown). Fixed on the armature shaft 51 of motor 56 is a sprocket58 around which passes a chain 59 that also passes around a sprocket 66 that is fixed on the extension shaft 6| of a pump 62 suitably constructed to, supply air under pressure from one side thereof and to create vacuum in another side thereof. This air and vacuum pump 62 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured above the motor 56 on brackets 63 which, in turn, are secured in spaced relation in any suitable manner on the uppermost cross shaft 54 and a cross shaft 64 located thereabove and secured in any suitable manner on the front uprights 5.

Secured in" any suitable manner in spaced relation on the'uppermost cross shaft 54 and the cross shaft 64 are brackets 65 (Fig. 1) which have bolted or otherwise suitably secured thereto in spaced relation plates 66 (Fig. 3) provided therein with bearings for the extension shaft 6| of pump 62 and through which said shaft extends. Mounted in spaced relation on the. shaft 6| between the plates 66 are clutches 61, 63.01 well known construction and a clutch engaging and releasing device 69 therebetween provided with a grooved collar 10. I g

. The clutch 6'|.has a part II fixed onshaft 6| and a part 12 l00se 0n said shaft and provided -with a spur pinion 13 The pinion .13 meshes with a large gear 14 that is fixed-on a shaft 15 journailed in suitable bearings inthe plates 88. The clutch 88 has a part 1| fixed on the shaft 8| and a part 18 loose on said shaft and provided with a spur pinion 11. The spur pinion 11 meshes with a similar pinion 18 iournalled in any suitable manner on one of the plates 88. This I fixed on shaft 22 on an end thereof projecting i outwardly through one of the brackets 23.

Bolted or otherwise suitably secured'at one side of the feeder on the adjacent uprights 8 and 8 are brackets 83 (Fig. 1) in which is iournalled a rock shaft 84 having fixed on the rear end thereof a handle 88. Fixed on the front end of rock shaft 84 is an arm 88 having pivotally connected therewith theupper end of a rod 81 the lower end of which is pivotally connected with an arm 88 that is fixed on a short shaft 89 journalled on an arm 90 of a bracket 9| that is fixed in any suitable manner between the plates 88 on a'stay shaft 92 which connects said plates together (Figs. 3, 5 and 6).

The arm 88 is provided with a shoe 93 having downwardly and inwardly inclined faces 94, 98 terminating in a groove 98 normally receiving a roller 91 journalled in any suitable manner on a plunger 98 projecting from a housing 99 secured to or formed integrally with bracket 9|. plunger 98 is provided therein with a recess I against the bottom of which bears one end of a spring |0I the opposite end of which bears against a cover plate I02 secured in any suitable manner to the housing 99 at the top thereof.

The short shaft 98 also has fixed thereon a downwardly extending arm I03 passing clear of a flattened portion I04 of a stay shaft I08 that also connects the-plates 88 together. The lower end of the arm I03 is pivotally connected with one extremity ofa link I08 the opposite extremity of which is pivotally connected with a shift rod I01 slidably mounted in suitable openings in the plates 88 and extending therebetween. This shift rod I01 has. fixed thereon a fork I08 the arms I09 of which are engaged in the groove 10 of the clutch engaging and releasing device In order to rapidly elevate the pile A of sheets that has been moved into the feeder as before described, the motor.88 is started by its switch means and the armature shaft 81 of said motor then rotates-clockwise as shown in Fig. 1. The handle 88, which has previously been held in the vertical neutral position thereof shown in Fig. 1

by the spring pressed plunger 98 and engagement of its roller 91 in the groove 98 of shoe 93, is pulled outwardly (Fig. 1) or toward the right (Fig. 3) and held in this position by the operat r. This movement of handle 88 rocks shaft 84 and lowers rod 81 so that shoe 93v and the short shaft 89 are rocked counter-clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6 and the inclined face 94 of said shoe forces thespring pressed plunger 98 upwardly in housing 99. This rocking movement of short shaft 89 rocks and I03 tothe right (Fig. 6) and through the described connections for said arm with shift rod I01 the latter. and fork I 08 are also moved tothe'right (Fig.- 6), thus actuating the device 89 (Fig. 3) so that the clutch 81 is thrown into operation.

The

and through rotation of the latter by motor" 88, gear 13. drives gear 14, shaft 18, chain 8|, shaft 22, and chains 3| so that the inner reaches of the latter are rapidly raised and the lowermost pair of rails 38 are moved upwardly.v The beveled edges 81 of said pairof rails 38 engage plates 83 and the bottom of pile board 82 and through continued rapid elevation of said rails the pile sheets thereon are lifted. from the rollers 48 and elevated until the top of-said pile is at proper height for feeding of the sheets of! the same one after another as hereinafter described.

When the top of the pile A is at proper height, the operator releases handle 88 which is then moved inwardly (Fig. 1) or to the left (Fig. 3) by the spring pressed plunger 98 to its normal vertical and neutral position. The parts connected with'handle 85 are thus also returned to their neutral positions by plunger 98. This throws the clutch 81 out of operation and disconnects the drive for elevator 3|, 38 from motor 88 through shaft 8| and gears 13, 14. During operation of the elevator to bring the initial load A up to feeding position the ratchet 25 will rotate idly under pawl 24 without any interference therebetween. This enables the main feeder drive includingthe chain I3 to be operating while the feeder is being initially loaded, or reloaded as hereinafter described, without having to stop said drive.

The feeder having been initially loaded, and the pile A of sheets moved upwardly to proper position as previously described, the inner warding sheets'one after the other from the top of the properly elevated pile A comprises pile winding devices, sheet separating devices, sheet winding devices, sheet forwarding devices, and sheet conveying devices which will be described in the order named.

The pile winding devices (Figs. 1, 2 and 7) are comprised by vertically elongated nozzles IIO disposed at the rear of the pile and secured to or formed integrally with pipes III yieldably and adjustably mounted in any suitable manner on across bar I I2 disposed over the pile A at the rear thereof. This cross bar I I2 is bolted or otherwise suitably secured tobrackets II3 adjustably secured on side bars I which, together with said rear cross bar, -form.a frame the front end of which is pivoted at I I on brackets |I8 .bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the side frame members I and 8 near the fronts thereof. The rear end of the frame II2, II 4 rests on pins II1 secured in any suitable manner to and projecting inwardly from the rear uprights 8. The pile winding nozzles Ifll together with other devices mounted on cross bar II2 are adjustable along the latter for difierent widths of sheets, and said j of various lengths.

. The pipes m of the pile winding nozzles no are connected by flexible conduits |I8 with'the ported casing II9 of a rotary valve mechanism board 82, and the skid board 49 and pile A of indicated broadly at no (Figs. 2 and a). The

-cam shaft I8 extends loosely through the valve casing H9 and said casing is'supported on a tubular shaft I2I extending transversely of the feeder and secured in any suitable manner to the front uprights 5. The rotary valve mechanism I20 is of the type shown in the application of Leonard Baker,'Ge0rge A. Martin and Leo C. Williams, Serial No. 116,692 filed December 19, 1936. It controls the delivery of air to the pile and sheet winding devices and the making and breaking of vacuum in the sheet separating and forwarding devices as described in said application Serial No. 116,692 and includes a rotary air valve I22 and a rotary vacuum valve I23 fixed on cam shaft I8 at opposite sides of the casing H9 and having ports cooperating with ports in said casing, and discs I24 and I25 fixed on said cam shaft at the outer sides of said valves.

The tubular shaft I2I has two divided parts I26, I21 the part I26 being connected by a flexible conduit I28 witha tank I29 secured, as by a strap I30, to the front face of the plate or apron II.

conduit I 32 connected with saidside of the pump and said tank. It will thus appear that through the described connections between the air side of pump'62 and pipes I II, and by control of the air valve I 22 of the mechanism I20, air under pressure will be supplied through nozzles IIO to wind the uppermost sheets of pile A at proper intervals. I

The sheet separating devices are preferably of the type disclosed in application Serial No. 116,- 692 above referred to and include suction cups I33 fixed on the lower ends of tubular pistons I34 having reciprocating working strokes of considerable length in cylinders I35 supported by brackets I36 mounted on the cross bar II2 for adjustment therealong to any desired position. (Figs. ,1, 2 and 7.)

The suction cups I33 and pistons I34 are, as'in application Serial No. 116,692 above referred to, spring operated in one direction and vacuum operated in the other direction and for this purpose springs (not shown) are disposed in'cylinders I35 between the pistons I34 and the upper cylinder heads and the cylinders are connected with the vacuum side of pump 62. Accordingly, cylinders I35 have connected therewith flexible conduits I31 which are also connected with suitable ports in valve casing II 9 controlled by valve I23. These ports are further connected with the part I21 of tubular shaft I2I which part, in turn, is connected with a flexible conduit I38. The conduit I38 is connected with an L-shaped conduit I39 that is also connected with the vacuum side of pump 62 which side is connected by a conduit I3I with the air side of said pump for delivery of exhaust air therein. It will thus appear that through the described connections for cylinders I35 with the vacuum side of pump 62,

and by control of the vacuum valve I23 of mechanism I20, vacuum will be created in said cylinders at proper intervals and, with the springs therein, will reciprocate the pistons I34 and cups I33, with strokes of considerable length, to engage said cups with the sheets of pile A and initially separate said sheets therefrom in proper sequence.

As each sheet is initially separated or lifted from the top of the pile by pistons I34 and cups I33, a blast or blasts of air are directed between the pile and the separated sheet to completely separate it from said pile in the direction in which This tank I29 is supplied with air under pressure from the air side of pump 62 by a 'nected with an arm I54 that is fixed on the rock the sheet is carried forward therefrom. This is accomplished by directing air under pressure at proper intervals through nozzles I40 located adjacent the top and rear of the pile and secured to or formed integrally with pipes I4 I The pipes 5 HI and nozzles I40 are adiustably mounted in any suitable manner on the cross bar II 2 and may be adjusted, as desired, both laterally and vertically with respect to said bar in accordance. with the width of the sheets and the height of the top ofthe pile A. The pipes I4I have connected therewith flexible conduits I42 which are also connected with suitable ports in the valve casing 9 "through which air under pressure is delivered from the part I26 of tubular shaft I2I. It will thus appear that through the described connections for nozzles I40 with the source of airunder pressure. and by control of the air valve I22 of mechanism I20, air underpressure will be delivered through said nozzles at proper 20 intervals to wind each sheet separated or lifted from the pile by the above described sheet separating devices.

The sheets separated one after another from the top of pile A are forwarded in like manner 25 relative thereto by sheet forwarding devices of the type illustrated and described in application Serial No. 116,692 above referred to. These sheet forwarding devices include vacuum cups I43 fixed on the lower ends of tubular pistons I44 having 80 working strokes of considerable length in cylin ders I45. These cylinders I45 are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to arms I46 fixed on a rock shaft I41 extending transversely of the feeder and journalled in suitablebearings in the brackets 35 H6 at the top and front of the feeder (Figs. 1, 3 and 7). The vacuum cups I 43 and the tubular pistons I44, as in application Serial No. 116,692, are spring operated in one direction and vacuum operated in the opposite direction. For this purpose springs (not shown) are disposed in the cylinders I45 between the-pistons I44 and the upper heads of the cylinders, and said cylinders are connected with the vacuum side of pump 62 as follows. The cylinders I45 have connected therewithfiexible conduits I48 which are also conriected with suitable ports in the casing II9 of valve mechanism I20. These last named ports are also connected through casing II9 with the vacuum part I21 of tubular shaft I2I and are controlled by the vacuum valve I23 of said valve mechanism. It will thus appear that through the described connections for cylinders I45 with the source of vacuum, and by control of the vacuum valve I23, vacuum will be intermittently created and broken in said cylinders and with the springs therein, will reciprocate the pistons I44 and vacuum cups I 43 so that the latter engage and further lift the separated sheets at proper intervals and release said sheets when the same are forwarded by swinging motion of said pistons and cylinders. I I

Swingingmotion of cylinders I45 and the sheet forwarding devices is effected by a 'cam I49 and a spring I50 (Fig. 7). The cam I49 is fixedon cam shaft I8 and engages a roller I5I journalled on a fork I52 between which the cam shaft extends. This fork I52 is secured to or formed in-' tegrally with a strap I53 which is pivotally conshaft I41. The spring I50 has one end connected with the arm I54 and the opposite end secured rotation of said cam and the action of said spring 75 I includes a shaft I56 (Figs. 1, 3 and 7) extending transverselyof the feeder and Joumalled in suitable bearings in the front uprights 5. This shaft I56 is driven from the short shaft I5 which, for this purpose, has fixed thereon a large gear I51 which meshes with a similar gear I 58 that is fixed on the shaft I56. The shaft I56 has fixed thereon in spaced relation outer feed rollers I59 and inner feed rollers I60 around which pass tapes I6I that also pass around a front conveyor roller (not shown). Cooperating with a pair of the feed rollers I60 and the adjacent tapes I6I for delivery of 30 the separated and forwarded sheets thereby, are

drop rollers I62 journalled on arms I63 that are fixed on a rock shaft I64 extending transversely of the feeder and journalledin suitable bearings in side plates I65 bolted or otherwise suitably sea cured to the front uprights 5' and extending forwardly thereof.

The rock shaft I64 has fixed thereon an arm I66 provided with a roller I61 that is engaged intermittently by a cam I66 secured to or formed integrally with the disc I24 that is fixed on and rotated by cam shaft I8. The drop rollers I62 are lowered at intervals by a spring (not shown) and are raised at intervals by cam I68 in timed relation with the action of the sheet forwarding devices so that when said drop rollers are lifted a sheet is forwarded by said devices between the drop rollers and the feed rollers I59, I60 whereupon the drop rollers are lowered to advance the sheet and the forwarding devices recede to engage the next sheet. These operations are repeated to facilitate forwarding and conveying of the sheets one after another in proper sequence.

As the sheets are separated and forwarded one after another from the top of the pile in the manner described above, the inner reaches of chains I3I are intermittently raised to elevate the pile of sheets. This intermittent raising of the pile is preferably controlled by mechanism constructed and operated as follows. A detector I69 in the form of a ball rests continuously by gravity on the top of the pile and is freely mounted in the lower end of a gravity plunger I10 that is slidably mounted in a housing I'll adjustably secured in any suitablemanner on the cross bar I I2. This housing I 1 I has connected therewith one end of a flexible conduit I 12 the opposite end of which is connected with ahousing I13 having a spring pressed splunger I14 extending downwardly therethrough and adapted, under certain conditions, to engage a pawl mask I15 loosely mounted on shaft 22 adjacent the ratchetthis purpose, the part I26 of tubular shaft I2I has connected therewith one end of a flexible conduit I16 the opposite end of which is connected with the housing "I so that air under pressure is supplied therein.

i Upon abnormal lowering of the detector 169,

as above described, this air under pressure is delivered from housing "I through conduit I12 into housing I13. The air under pressure thus delivered into housing I16 forces the plunger I14 downwardly against the action of its spring into engagement with the pawl mask I15. This mask I16 is rotated by pawl carrier 2I when the eleconduit I12 to plunger housing I13 and the spring therein for its plunger I14 raises the latter'out of-engagement with the mask I15 so that said mask is permitted to rotate, hold the pawl 24 out of engagement with the ratchet 25, and thus prevent further elevation of the pile until this is again necessary. These operations are repeated at intervals as the sheets are fed continuously from the top of said pile.

In accordance with the present sheets continuously from the top of a continuous C I invention, means are provided enabling the feeder to feed supply and this supply is continuously maintained by new loads or piles of sheets placed at intervals in the feeder and each run up vertically under a preceding load or supply to replenish the same. This. continuous feeding of sheets from the supply and replenishing thereof is preferably I accomplished as follows.

Assuming that original pile A of sheets has been lifted step by step by the described means for this purpose as sheets have been fed off the top of said pile successively by the sheet separating and forwarding devices, the top of the skid board 46 will arrive at a certain position thereof in which position'of said board a temporary removable support in the form of a fork I11 is placedin the feeder to support'the remainder of the pile A of sheets.

This fork is placed in. the feeder through the rear thereof, the tangs I16 of the fork being inserted in the grooves 50 of the skid board 69 under the remainder of the pile of sheets thereon.

When the terms I18 are so inserted in grooves 50, the free ends of said tangs pass through notches I19 formed on the top of the apron or plate I I and rest thereon, and the head N0 of said fork rests on pins I8I secured in any suitable manner on brackets I82 that are bolted or otherwise suitably fastened on the rear uprights 6 and project inwardly therefrom as clearly shown in Fig. 4. In this position of fork I11 (Fig. '7) it is located at a distance from the sheet separating and forwarding devices substantially equal to the length of their maximum working strokes so that said devices can feed the sheets of the remainder of the pile supported on the fork one after another without elevation of said remainder. of the pile.

The remainder of the pile A of sheets now being supported on the fork I11, the sheet separating and forwarding devices which, as pointed out, have working strokes of considerable length, continue to operate and feed sheets one after another from the top of the remainder of the pile supported on said fork. The elevator is now The front ends of tracks I83 are bolted or otherwise suitably secured on the rear uprights ,6 and spaced inwardly therefrom in any suitable manner, and the rear ends of said tracks are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to, and spaced from, the lower ends of inclined bars I84. The upper front ends of the inclined bars I84 are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the rear uprights 6. v

Lowering of the inner reaches of the elevator chains 3I to remove the empty pile and skid boards is accomplished as follows. The handle 85 is pushed inwardly (Fig. 1) or to the left (Fig. 3) and held in this position by the operator so that the pawl and ratchet mechanism 24, 25 is thrown out of operation and the clutch 68 is thrown into operation. For throwing the pawl and ratchet mechanism 24, 25 out of operation, the rock shaft 84 has fixed thereon near its forward end an arm I85 having a pin and slot connection I86, I 81 with a small link I88 that is pinned or otherwise suitably secured to a shift rod I89. This shift rod I89 extends transversely of the feeder and is slidably'mounted in suitable openings in brackets 23. Fixed on shift rod I89 is a fork I90 the .arms I 9I of which engage in a groove I92 formed in the pawl mask I15. When the 'lever 85 is shifted to the left (Fig. 3) the shift rod I89, the fork I90, and the mask I15 are moved to the right so that said mask lifts the pawl 24 and holds it out of engagement with the ratchet 25.

Upon shifting of the lever 85 to the left (Fig. 3) or inwardly (Fig. 1), the rod 81 is raised, thus rocking the arm 88 and moving thearm I03 to the left (Fig. 6). The face 95 of shoe 93 thus moves to the right and forces plunger 98 upward from its normal position in the groove 96 of said shoe. Movement of arm I03 to the left (Fig. 6) causes corresponding movement of link I06, shift rod I01, and fork I08, thus throwing clutch 68 into operation so that gears 11, 18, 19, chain 8I and shaft 22 are driven in the proper direction to lower the inner reaches of chains 3| of the elevator and bring the pair of rails 36 supporting the empty pile and skid boards into alinement with tracks I83 for removal of said boards as before described. When said pair of rails 36 is brought into alinement with tracks I83, the elevator is stopped by releasing handle 85 which is then moved by spring pressed plunger 98 to its vertical or neutral position thus throwing the clutch 68 out of operation and disconnecting the drive for elevator 3I, 36 from motor 56 through shaft BI and gears 11, 18 and 19. Under these conditions shift rod (Fig. 3) by a spring I94 mounted on said rod between a collar I 95 thereon and one of the brackets 23. This movement of rod I89 is limited by a second collar I96 thereon and when rod I89 is moved as aforesaid, the mask I15 is moved thereby back to its operative position. While sheets are being separated and fed from the top of the remainder of the original pile on fork I89 is moved to the left I11, and after the original pile board and skid' board are removed from the feeder, a second pile board which has been placed on the rollers 48 at the 'rearwardly projecting'ends of stringers 45 and loaded with a second skid board andpile A of sheets is run therewith into the feeder, as in the case of the first pile or load, to position for into operation. The gears 13, 14, the chain 8I,-

and the shaft 22 are thus driven from motor 56 so that chains 3I of the elevator are operated to bring a pair of rails ,36 around sprockets 32 and upwardly under the new pile board into engagement with plates 53* thereof and the bottom of said board. Continued upward movement of the last mentioned pair of rails 36 lifts the new pile board 52 and the new skid board and load of sheets thereon upwardly until the top of the new. pile is brought up into contact with the fork I11. In the meantime the ratchet 25 rides idly past the oscillating pawl 24 so that the latter has no efiect on said ratchetand the elevator.

The lever is now released and moved by plunger 98 to normal or vertical position thus throwing clutch 61 out of operation and stopping the drive of shaft 22 through chain 8I. The fork I11 is then removed from the feeder through the rear thereof as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 7,

' er having been set into operation, feeding of sheets therefrom may proceed continuously without interruption, by temporarily supporting the remainder of each pile of sheets, reloading a new pile thereunder, withdrawing the supporting fork, and elevating the pile step by step, as described, and repeating these operations as necessary or required.

Having now described my invention what I claim is:

1. In a sheet feeder, a pile elevator, means for intermittently operating the pile elevator, other means for operating said pile elevator, manually insertable sheet supporting means manually removed from sheetsupporting position when the pile elevator is operated by its first named operating means and movable into sheet supporting position when said elevator is operated by its second named operating means, means having a neutral inoperative position and movable in opposite directions therefrom for selectively throwing said .two elevator operating means intoand out of operation, and means for automatically returning said last named means to its neutral inoperative positionafter movement of the same as aforesaid in either of said directions.

2. In a sheet feeder, mechanism for elevating a pile board and a pile of sheets thereon until the board reaches a certain height, manually insertable means moved at said height to sheet supporting position between the board and pile for supporting a remainder of the latter,said

anism, and means for operating said elevating mechanism for the purposes aforesaid.

3. In a sheet feeder, means at the bottom thereof for running pile boards and piles of sheets thereon into the feeder, an elevator for lifting a board and pile from said means and for continuing the elevation thereof until the board reaches a certain height, manuallyinsertable supporting means moved at said height to sheet supporting position between the board and pile for supporting a remainder of the latter, said supporting means being .manually removed from sheet supporting position when the elevator has been operated for removal of the board therefrom and .to lift a second board and pile thereon from said first named means and raise the second board and pile until the top of the latter reachesthe level of the bottom of the remainder of the elevated first pile, means on the feeder onto which empty pile boards may be transferred from the elevator, and means for operating said elevator for the purposes aforesaid 4. In a sheet feeder, a frame, tracks on the frame, an elevator on said frame comprising endless chains and horizontal pile board engaging rails movable into alignment with the tracks for transfer of empty pile boards from the rails to the tracks, and means for operating the elevator to bring the rails thereof into alignment with said tracks for the purposes aforesaid.

5. In a sheet feeder, a frame, means at the bottom of the frame for running pile boards and piles fof sheets thereon into the frame, an elevator on the frame comprising endless chains and horizontal rails for lifting boards and piles of sheets thereon from said means and continuing the elevation of each board and pile for feeding of sheets therefrom, and tracks on theframe with which the rails may be aligned by said chains. to transfer empty pile boards from said rails to said tracks.

6. In a sheet feeder, a frame, means at the bottom of the frame for running pile boards and piles of sheets thereon into the frame, rail engaging means on opposite sides of each pile board, and an elevator on the frame comprising endless chains and horizontal beveled edged rails for engaging said rail engaging means and boards and lifting the latter and piles of sheets thereon from said first named means. I

'7. In a sheet feeder; a frame; vertical tracks on the frame and provided with vertical slots; an elevator on the frame comprising endless chains, follower plates on the chains traveling through the slots of the' vertical tracks, rollers on the follower plates traveling on opposite sides of said tracks, and horizontal pile and pile board lifting and elevating rails secured to said follower plates; and means for operating said elevator.

8. In a sheet feeder, flexible means forsupporting, feeding and replenishing a supply'of sheets, power actuated mechanisms for'selectively operating the flexible means intermittently to feed the supply or continuously and rapidly to feed other sheets and-replenish the supply therewith, means normally removed from the feeder and manually movable therein at a predetermined position in the path of travel of the supply to suppower actuated mechanisms int port and hold said supply stationary while it is being replenished, means located on the feeder in said position for suopporting the manually movable means and the supply in said feeder, and means for selectively throwing said power actuated mechanisms and said flexible means into intermittent or continuous and rapid operation.

9. In a sheet feeder, vertically extending flexible pile supporting, elevating and replenishing means adjacent opposite sides of the feeder, power actuated mechanisms for selectively operating the flexible means intermittently to feed an elevated pile of sheets or continuously and rapidly to replenish the elevated pile by elevating another pile thereto under the same, auxiliary means nor- 1 mally removed from the feeder and manually movable therein through the rear thereof at a predetermined elevation in the upward path of travel of the first pile to support and hold said first pile stationary while the second pile .is ele-- vated thereto as aforesaid, means on the front and rear of the feederat said elevation for supporting said auxiliary means and the supply in said feeder, and means for selectively throwing said power actuated mechanisms and said flexible means into intermittent or continuous and rapid operation.

10. In a sheet feeder, vertically extending flexible means at opposite sides of the feeder for supporting, elevating and replenishing piles of sheets, motor actuated mechanism for imparting continuous and rapid movement to the flexible means whereby it may rapidly raise a pile loaded thereon at the bottom of the feeder to feeding position under and in contact with the bottom of a preceding elevated pile diminished through feeding of sheets from the top therof, means normally removed from the feeder and manually movable therein at a predetermined elevation under the elevated and diminished pile to support it while the succeeding pile is elevated thereto under the I same bythe flexible means, power actuated mechanism for. imparting intermittent elevating movement to the flemble means and each pile raised to said feeding position whereby the top of the pile is maintained at a predetermined level as sheets are fed therefrom, and means for selectiveit may rapidly raise a pile loaded thereon at the bottom of the feeder to feeding position under and in contact with the bottom of a preceding elevated pile diminished through feeding of sheets from the top thereof, manually displaceable means normally removed from the feeder and manually positioned therein at a predetermined elevation under the elevated and diminished pile for supporting it stationarywhile the succeeding pile is elevated thereto under the same by the flexible means, supports on the feeder at said elevation for receiving and holding said manuallydisplaceable means in pile supporting position, power actuated mechanism for imparting intermittent elevating movement to the flexible means and each pile raised to said feeding position whereby the top of the pile is maintained at a pre-. determined level as sheets are fed therefrom and means for selectively throwing said motor 'a'n d; o andout ofloperfation.

12. In a sheet feeder, flexible means for feeding a supply of sheets and for adding sheets to I the bottomvof the supply when it is diminished through removal of sheets from the top thereof, power driven means for operating the flexible means intermittently as sheets are removed from the supply and for operating the flexible means continuously and rapidly when it adds sheets to said supply, means manually movable into and out of a supply supporting position on the feeder for supporting the supply stationary when it is diminished and while sheets are being added to the bottom of the supply by said flexible means, and means for selectively throwing said power driven means and said flexible means'into intermittent or continuous and rapid operation. I

13. In a sheet feeder, vertically disposed flexible means for elevating a supply of sheets and for adding sheets vertically to the bottom of the supply-when it is diminished through removal of sheets from the top thereof, power 'driven means for operating the flexible means intermittently and upwardly as sheets are removed from the supply and for operating the flexible means continuously and rapidly when sheets are added vertically tothe bottom of the supply, means manually movable horizontally into and out of a supply supporting position on the feeder for supporting the supply stationary when it is diminished and while sheets are being added vertically to the bottom thereof by said vertically disposed flexible means, and means for selectively throwing said power driven means and said flexible means into intermittent or continuous and rapid operation.

14. In a sheet feeder, vertically disposed flexible pile feeding mechanism provided at intervals therealong with a plurality of means for supporting sheet piles, said mechanism and one of said means being adapted to elevate a pile and support the same until it is diminished by feeding of sheets from the top thereof and said mechanism and another of said means being adapted to support and elevate a new pile to the bottom of the preceding diminished pile, power driven meansfor operating the flexible mechanism in-. termittently and upwardly as sheets are removed from the top of a pile and for operating the flexible mechanism continuously and rapidly to elevate and add the new pileto the bottom of the preceding diminished pile, means manually movable into and out of a pile supporting position on the feeder for supporting'the diminished pile stationary while the new pile is elevated to the bottom thereof by said mechanism, and means for selectively throwing said power driven means and said flexible mechanism into intermittent or continuous and rapid operation.

15. In a sheet feeder, pile elevating and feeding mechanism comprising vertically disposed flexible endless means at opposite sides of the feeder provided at corresponding intervals therealong with pairs of devices for supporting sheet piles, said means and one pair'of devices thereon being adapted to elevate a sheet pile and support the same until itlis diminished by feeding of sheets from the top thereof and said means and another pair of said devices being adapted ing mechanism comprising vertically disposed endless chains at opposite sides of the feeder provided at corresponding intervals therealong I with pairs of horizontal rails for supporting sheet piles, said chains and one pair of rails thereon being adapted to elevate a sheet pile and support the same until it is diminished by feeding of sheets from the top thereof and said chains and another pair of said rails being adapted to support and elevate a new sheet pile to the bottomof the elevated diminished pile, power driven means for operating the chains upwardly and intermittently to feed an elevated pile and for operating the chains continuously and rapidly to elevate the succeeding pile to the bottom of the preceding diminished pile, a temporary support comprising spaced elements manually movable into and out of pile supporting position on' the feeder for supporting the diminished pile stationary while the succeeding pile is elevated to the bottom thereof by said mechanism, means on the feeder for supporting said temporary support therein and enabling it to be moved into and out of the feeder as desired, and means for selectively throwing said power driven means. and said endless chains into intermittent or continuous and rapid operation.

17. In a sheet feeder, flexible means for supporting, feeding and replenishing a supply of sheets, power driven means for selectively operating the flexible means intermittently to feed the supply or continuously and rapidly to feed other sheets and replenish the supply therewith, manually insertable means for supporting said supply stationary while it is being replenished, said manually insertable means being manually removed from supply supporting position when.

the supply has been replenished, means on the feeder for supporting the manually insertable means in supply supporting position to hold the supply stationary while it is being replenished, and means for selectively throwing said power driven means and said flexible means into intermittent or continuous and rapid operation.

18. In a sheet feeder, flexible means for elevating a pile of sheets and for adding sheets to the bottom of the pile when it is diminished through removal of sheets from the top thereof, power driven means for operatingthe flexible means intermittently as sheets are removed from the top of the pile and for operating the flexible means continuously and rapidly when it adds sheets to the bottom of said pile, manually .insertable means movable to pile supporting position for supporting the pile stationary while sheets are being added to the bottom thereof, said manually insertable means being manually removed from the pile supporting position when sheets have been added to the bottom of the pile, means on the feeder for supporting the'manually insertable means in pile supporting position to hold the pile stationarywhile sheets are being added to the bottom thereof, and means for selectively throwing said power driven meansand said flexible means into intermittent or continuous and rapid operation thereof, said manually insertable means being 19. In a sheet feeder, flexible. means for feeding a supply of sheets and for adding sheets to the. bottom of the supply when it is diminished through removal of sheets from the top thereof, power driven mechanism for operating the flexible means intermittently as sheets are removed from the top of the supply and for operating the flexible means continuously when it adds sheets to the bottom of said supply, manually insertable means movable to supply supporting position for supporting the supply stationary while sheets are being added to the bottom manually removed from supply supporting position when sheets have been added to the bottom of the supply, means on the feeder for supporting the manually insertable means in supply supporting position to hold the supply stationary while sheets are being added to the bottom there-' of, and means for selectively throwing .said power driven mechanism into intermittent or continuous operation.

20. In a sheet feeder of the class having a pile elevator, mechanism for operating the elevator in opposite directions, and vacuum type sheet feeding means, the combination of supporting means adapted to hold an elevated and diminished pile of sheets within the range of action of the sheet feeding means while the elevator and its operating mechanism are employed to lift a new pile of sheets to the bottom of said elevated and diminished pile, a pump connected with the sheet feeding means for producing vacuum therein, and means for driving both the pump and the elevator operating mechanism without interrupting the vacuum producing operation of said pump, whereby said sheet feeding means feeds sheets without interruption from said elevated and diminished pile while said elevator and its operating mechanism are employed to lift said new pile of sheets as aforesaid.

21. In a sheet feeder of the class having a pile elevator, mechanism for operating the pile elevator in opposite directions, and vacuum type sheet feeding means, the combination of supporting means adapted to hold an elevated and diminished pile of sheets within the range of action of the sheet feeding means while the elevator and its operating mechanism are employed to lift a new pile of sheets to the bottom of said elevated and diminished pile, a pump connected with the sheet feeding means for producing vacuum therein, means operated in one direction only for driving both the elevator operating mechanism and the pump and operatively connected with the latter, and means for connecting the elevator operating mechanism with the driving means without disconnecting the pump therefrom and without interrupting its vacuum producing operation, whereby said sheet feeding means feeds sheets without interruption from said elevated and diminished pile while said elevator and its operating mechanism are employed to lift said new pile of sheets as aforesaid.

22. In a sheet feeder of the class having a pile elevator, mechanism for operating the elevator in opposite directions, and variable reach vacuum type sheet feeding means, the combination of removable means for supporting an elevated and diminished pile of sheets stationary and within the range of action of the sheet feeding means while the elevator and its operating mechanism are employed to lift a new pile of sheets to the bottom of said elevated and diminished pile, a pump connected with the sheet feeding means for producing vacuum therein, and means for driving both the pump and the elevator operating mechanism without interrupting the vacuum producing operation of said pump, whereby said variable reach sheet feeding means feeds sheets without interruption from the stationary lifted and diminished pile on said supporting means .while said elevator and its operating mechanism are employed to lift said new pile of sheets as aforesaid.

23. In a sheet feeder of the class having a pile elevator, mechanisms for selectively operating the elevator in opposite directions, and variable reach vacuum type sheet feeding means, the combination of removable supporting means adapted to hold an elevated and diminished pile of sheets stationary and withinthe range of action of the variable reach sheet feeding means while the elevator and its operating mechanisms are employed to lift a new pile of sheets to the bottom of said elevated and diminished pile, a pump connected with the sheet feeding means for producing vacuum therein, means for driving both the elevator operating mechanisms and the pump and operatively connected with the latter, and means for selectively connecting the elevator operating mechanisms with the driving means without interrupting the vacuum producing operation of the pump by the same, whereby said sheet feeding means feeds sheets without interruption from the stationary elevated and diminished pile on said supporting means while stationary and within the range of action of the variable reach sheet feeding means while the elevator and the gear mechanisms are employed to lift a new pile of sheets to the bottom of said stationary elevated and diminished pile, a pump connected with the sheet feeding means for producing vacuum therein, a motor operated in one direction only for driving both the gear mechanisms and the pump and operatively connected with the latter, and clutch means for selectively connecting the gear mechanisms with the motor without disconnection of the pump therefrom and without interrupting its vacuum producing operation, whereby said sheet feeding means feeds sheets successively without interruption from the stationary elevated and diminished pile on said supporting means while said elevator and said gear mechanisms are employed tolift said new pile of sheets to the bottom of said stationary elevated and diminished pile.

LEONARD s im. 

